Tethering providing system and method using short distance communication

Abstract

Provided are a tethering providing system and method using short distance communication. More particularly, second short distance communication tethering between a vehicle terminal device and a communication terminal device is set in accordance with whether first short distance communication is established, activated when the vehicle terminal device and the communication terminal device are re-connected through the first short distance communication, and deactivated when the first short distance communication is terminated, thereby providing high-speed data connection through the second short distance communication tethering while reducing battery consumption of the communication terminal device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tethering providing system using short distance communication, the system comprising:
 a communication terminal device configured to perform first short distance communication and second short distance communication tethering; 
 a vehicle terminal device configured to
 connect to the communication terminal device through the first short distance communication, 
 request a setting of the second short distance communication tethering from the communication terminal device, and 
 when the second short distance communication tethering is activated by re-connection to the communication terminal device through the first short distance communication, perform service connection through the activated second short distance communication tethering; 
 
 a service providing device configured to provide the service connection to the vehicle terminal device through the communication terminal device in the activated second short distance tethering, 
 wherein, when the first short distance communication of the communication terminal device with the vehicle terminal device is connected, the communication terminal device is configured to
 set the second short distance communication tethering with the vehicle terminal device through the connected first short distance communication, 
 activate the set second short distance communication tethering with the vehicle terminal device, and 
 relay the service connection through the activated second short distance communication tethering, and 
 
 wherein, when the first short distance communication of the communication terminal device with the vehicle terminal device is terminated, the communication terminal device is configured to deactivate the activated second short distance communication tethering. 
 
     
     
       2. A communication terminal device, comprising:
 a first short distance communication unit configured to communicate with a vehicle terminal device through first short distance communication; 
 a second short distance communication unit configured to communicate with the vehicle terminal device through second short distance communication tethering; 
 a communication unit configured to communicate with a service providing device through a communication network; 
 a storage unit configured to store identification information of the vehicle terminal device and tethering setting information for setting the second short distance communication tethering; and 
 a control unit configured to
 set the second short distance communication tethering with the vehicle terminal device through the first short distance communication unit, 
 when the vehicle terminal device is connected through the first short distance communication unit, activate the set second short distance communication tethering by verifying the identification information of the vehicle terminal device and the tethering setting information, 
 relay service connection between the vehicle terminal device and the service providing device through the activated second short distance communication tethering, and 
 when the first short distance communication with the vehicle terminal device is terminated, deactivate the activated second short distance communication tethering. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The communication terminal device of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to
 when the activated second short distance communication tethering is deactivated, store communication termination information about the service connection provided from the service providing device, and 
 when re-connection of the first short distance communication with the vehicle terminal device is established, transmit the stored communication termination information to the vehicle terminal device. 
 
     
     
       4. The communication terminal device of  claim 2 , wherein, when a plurality of vehicle terminal devices are available, the control unit is configured to
 allocate a mutually different communication channel of second short distance communication to each of the plurality of vehicle terminal devices, and 
 provide the second short distance communication tethering to the plurality of vehicle terminal devices through the allocated mutually different communication channels. 
 
     
     
       5. The communication terminal device of  claim 2 , wherein, when a charge amount of a battery provided in the communication terminal device is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit is configured to
 deactivate the activated second short distance communication tethering with the communication terminal device, and 
 transmit a deactivation notifying message of the second short distance communication tethering to the vehicle terminal device. 
 
     
     
       6. A tethering providing method, the method performed by a communication terminal device, the communication terminal device including a control unit configured to execute the method, the method comprising:
 performing connection with a vehicle terminal device through first short distance communication; 
 setting second short distance communication tethering with the vehicle terminal device through the first short distance communication; 
 performing re-connection with the vehicle terminal device through the first short distance communication; 
 activating the set second short distance communication tethering by verifying identification information of the vehicle terminal device and tethering setting information; 
 relaying service connection between the vehicle terminal device and a service providing device through the activated second short distance communication tethering; and 
 when the first short distance communication with the vehicle terminal device is terminated, deactivating the activated second short distance communication tethering. 
 
     
     
       7. The tethering providing method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 when the activated second short distance communication tethering is deactivated, receiving and storing communication termination information about the service connection provided from the service providing device; 
 performing re-connection of the first short distance communication with the vehicle terminal device; and 
 transmitting the stored communication termination information to the vehicle terminal device. 
 
     
     
       8. The tethering providing method of  claim 6 , wherein, when a plurality of vehicle terminal devices are available, the relaying of the service connection includes
 allocating a mutually different communication channel of second short distance communication to each of the plurality of vehicle terminal devices, and 
 providing the second short distance communication tethering to the plurality of vehicle terminal devices through the allocated mutually different communication channels. 
 
     
     
       9. The tethering providing method of  claim 6 , wherein, when a charge amount of a battery provided in the communication terminal device is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the deactivating of the activated second short distance communication tethering includes
 deactivating the activated second short distance communication tethering with the terminal communication device, and 
 transmitting a deactivation notifying message of the second short distance communication tethering to the vehicle terminal device. 
 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording a computer program for causing, when executed by a control unit of a communication terminal device, the control unit to execute a method of providing tethering, the method comprising:
 performing connection with a vehicle terminal device through first short distance communication; 
 setting second short distance communication tethering with the vehicle terminal device through the first short distance communication; 
 performing re-connection with the vehicle terminal device through the first short distance communication; 
 activating the set second short distance communication tethering by verifying identification information of the vehicle terminal device and tethering setting information; 
 relaying service connection between the vehicle terminal device and a service providing device through the activated second short distance communication tethering; and 
 when the first short distance communication with the vehicle terminal device is terminated, deactivating the activated second short distance communication tethering.